Dogs have own way of acclimating to camping trip

T he other weekend we took our dogs with us to the mountains, their first road trip with us. There's Lilly the Aussie mix and Buddy the cocker mix. Lilly is adventuresome and likes to herd things, Buddy likes to stand around with his "dog smile" and wag his tail.

When it was time to go we popped open the car's back door and they excitedly hopped in.

Two hours later they weren't so enthusiastic. We stopped in Fort Sumner where I offered them water. Lilly lapped it all up and was ready for the next leg of the adventure. Buddy, however, wouldn't drink. I held the bowl to his nose, I pretended to drink some and say, "Mmm, mmm good," it didn't work. I ended up cupping my hand and trying to pour some in his mouth.

"What ARE you doing?" asked The Lady of the House.

"Trying to get him to drink," I said.

"He'll drink when he's thirsty," she said.

Our next stop was Santa Rosa. Adventuresome Lilly charged up the dog walk merrily marking every bush along the way. Buddy hopped back in the car. I tried to tug him out.

"What ARE you doing?" asked The Lady of the House.

"Well, you know, he needs to…"

"He'll go when he's ready."

"I don't know if he travels so well," I said.

That night in the cabin I walked the dogs four times. Lilly let everyone know she had arrived in Mora County but Buddy continued to keep to himself. Through the night I worried if he'd be comfortable or if he'd have an accident.

I shouldn't have been concerned. The next day he drank the bowl dry and proceeded to mark territory all around the campground, even the cabin's redwood deck.

"See?" said The Lady of the House. "When he's ready…"

Maybe it's just me who doesn't travel well.

Grant McGee is a long-time broadcaster and former truck driver who rides bicycles and likes to talk about his many adventures on the road of life.

Contact him at: [email protected]